Fluted Chest
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of...
Shell
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1840s American American Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1780s American American Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1760s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1770s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1770s English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1980s Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1730s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Antique 1730s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chestnut
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Blanket Chests
Nutwood
Antique 18th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1760s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1780s English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century American Sheraton Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique Early 18th Century British George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Commodes and Chests ...
Wood
Antique 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Antique Late 19th Century American American Colonial Commodes and Chests...
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary French Provincial Commodes and Chests of D...
Metal
Antique 1750s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century English Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Victorian Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Late Victorian Commodes and Chests o...
Pine
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
20th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century American Sheraton Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1780s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1770s American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1810s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 1800s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1840s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1770s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1980s Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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Fluted Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Fluted Chest?
Finding the Right commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Shopping for a commode or a chest of drawers?
Commode is the French term for a low chest of drawers, but it is also sometimes used to denote any case piece with a particularly intricate design. The commode dates to circa 1700 France, where it was used as an alternative to a taller cabinet piece so as to not obscure paneled, mirrored or tapestried walls. Coffers, or chests, which were large wooden boxes with hinged lids and sometimes stood on ball feet, preceded chests of drawers, a fashionable cabinet furnishing that garnered acclaim for its obvious storage potential and versatility. The term commode was also used to refer to a piece of bedroom furniture — a washstand or nightstand that contained a chamber pot.
As time passed, French and British furniture makers led the way in the production of chests of drawers, and features like the integration of bronze and ornamental pulls became commonplace. Antique French commodes in the Louis XV style were sometimes crafted in mahogany or walnut, while an Italian marble top added a sophisticated decorative flourish. This specific type of case piece grew in popularity in the years that followed.
So, what makes a chest of drawers different from a common dresser? Dressers are short, and chests of drawers are overall taller pieces of furniture that typically do not have room on the top for a mirror as most dressers do. Tallboys and highboys are variations of the dresser form. Some chests of drawers have one column of four to six long drawers or three long drawers in their bottom section that are topped by a cluster of small side-by-side drawers on the top. To further complicate things, we sometimes refer to particularly short chests of drawers as nightstands.
Even though chests of drawers are commonly thought of as bedroom furniture to store clothing, these are adaptable pieces. A chest of drawers can house important documents — think of your walnut Art Deco commode as an upgrade to your filing cabinet. Nestle your chest near your home’s front door to store coats and other outerwear, while the top can be a place to drop your handbag. Add some flair to your kitchen, where this lovable case piece can hold pots, pans and even cookbooks.
When shopping for the right chest of drawers for your home, there are a few key things to consider: What will you be storing in it? How big a chest will you need?
Speaking of size, don’t dream too big. If your space is on the smaller side, a more streamlined vintage mid-century modern chest of drawers, perhaps one designed by Paul McCobb or T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, may best suit your needs.
At 1stDibs, we make it easy to add style and storage to your home. Browse our collection of antique and vintage commodes and chests of drawers today.
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